U.S. Open champ Rose commits to Zurich Classic

U.S. Open champ Rose commits to Zurich Classic

Justin Rose, of England, hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament at Innisbrook Saturday, March 15, 2014, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans picked up a big commitment Tuesday when 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose announced that he’ll play in the April 24-27 event at TPC Louisiana.

Rose, the world’s seventh-ranked player, came from behind in the final round of the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club last June to win the title by two strokes over Phil Mickelson and Jason Day.

In doing so, Rose became the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

“Justin is truly one of the elite golfers in the world,” said Steve Worthy, the CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation which produces the PGA Tour event each spring.

Rose has won five PGA Tour events and six international tournaments — including the British, Australian and Volvo Masters. He tied for eighth in the Valspar Championship on Sunday for his second top 10 of the 2013-14 season.

In addition to his win in the U.S. Open, Rose has posted top-five finishes in golf’s other three majors. He has been third in the PGA Championship, fourth in the British Open and tied for fifth at The Masters.

Since 2011, Rose has finished fifth, sixth and 10th in the FedEx Cup standings with one tournament win each year — including the 2012 WGC-Cadillac Championship.

This season, he has made the cut in all five tournaments he has entered, with an a second in the unofficial PGA Grand Slam and a fifth in the WGC-HBSC Championship in February.